Jimsonweed
| Jimsonweed |
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| Scientific Classification |
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| Binomial Name |
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Datura stramonium |
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| Jimsonweed in full bloom |
Jimsonweed is a species of plant known by the scientific name datura stramonium. It is perhaps best known for its toxicity and many medicinal applications. It has also been used as a hallucinogen.
Body Design
Jimsonweed can grow up to five feet tall, with white flowers and seed pods with prickly edges. When the seed pods ripen they split open[1].
The flower can be purple in the center and has white peddles. The seeds are dark colored and medium in size with prickly edges. The leaves look like holly.
Life Cycle
The Jimsonweed has been classified as an annual plan, which means after one blooming season they die.[2] Jimsonweed self-pollinates so after it blooms and the wind carries the pollinated seed away, they grow a new plant the next season.
Medical Uses
Jimsonweed contains atropine, scopolamine, and hyoscyamine. By itself atropine is used for dilating the back of the eye for eye exams.[3] Scopolamine is put in to patches, to help prevent nausea and vomiting caused by motion-sickness. Hyoscyamine is used to treat disorders involving the gastrointestinal tract.[4]
The following phrase has been used to summarize jimsonweed seed poisoning: "Red a as a beet, dry as a bone, blind as a bat, mad hatter". The whole Jimsonweed plant is toxic. Jimsonweed poisoning physical symptoms’ are dry mouth, dilated pupils, high temperature, reduced sweating, and blurred vision. Psychological symptoms include confusion, euphoria, and delirium. [5]. The "cure" for Jimsonweed poisoning is the same for any overdose, at the hospital they will give the patient Activated charcoal. Even though Jimsonweed has many dreadful side effects, there are a few good side effects. For example, it can be administered to treat asthma, aches abscesses, arthritis, boils, headaches, hemorrhoids, rattlesnake bites, sprains, swellings and tumors.[6]
Video
This Video contains a NEWS broadcast on the dangers of ingesting Jimsonweed.
References
- Datura stramonium jimsonweed. USDA Plants rofile. Web. accessed April 29 2012 Unknown.
- Reproduction . Datura stramonium. Web. accessed 5/10/12 Unknown.
- Annual plant. wikiepedis. Web. accessed 5/10/12 Unknown.
- Scopolamine Patch buzzle Web. accessed 5/10/12 Unknown.
- What is atropine used to treat? sharecare Web. accessed 5/10/12 unknown.
- Hyoscyamine Medline Plus Web. accessed 5/10/12
- Jimsonweed: fast factsDo It Now Foundation Web. accesses 5/10/12 Unknown.
